Hopkins Cribs: Spacious Single

I'll admit, my room is a little messy right now. That's because this weekend I was away in NYC (Fordham University, then Westchester for a day) at the American Parliamentary Debate Association national tournament. Hopkins did great - we had the #1 individual, #2 varsity team, and #2 first-year team in the tournament. We also had the year's #1 individual, #3 team, and #4 team. We left EARLY on Friday and got back LATE last night...so my room is sort of in a state of disarray (and as of yet unpacked save my toothbrush).

Anyway, despite being a little messy, my room is fantastic. It's a HUGE single in McCoy, one of the sophomore dorms. I'm an RA (resident advisor), so I get my own room and own bathroom. As an employee of the school, my job is to provide chances for the 39 residents on my floor to get to know each other, hang out, and do fun stuff on campus and in the city. I'm also here to answer any of their questions and help with peer counseling and personal problems. It's a fantastic job, and I LOVE my residents.

So here's my room:

This is my disheveled closet, with a full-length mirror. My debate trophies and pictures of my friends are on the top (the only place in the room that's safe from flying objects when my friends are over).

This is my fridge - I get my own as an RA, which means nobody gets to steal my food or make my room stink with long-left over leftovers. I keep a stash of snacks on top in case I get hungry after The Depot closes.

This is my desk - I've added to it by putting drawers on either side so I can have space to lay out homework and other random stuff. Right now, included on my desk: iPod headphones, debate timer, orange nail polish, 3 Aquafina bottle wrappers, wallet, mail to send out, pocket change bowl, flyers to hang up on my hall, markers for making flyers, schedule (I'd die without it!), keys, glass of water.

This is my bed - I recently put it so it's in front of my wall of windows and so I can take advantage of the view of the city. I don't really make my bed unless people are coming over because I'm definitely NOT a morning person. I always have a book on the windowsill (right now, it's "Atlas Shrugged") to read before bed, and there's a lamp and some dried roses in a vase.

Under all the clothes, newspapers, and pillows, here are two chairs. I get the big comfy one with my room, and I acquired the other one from some of my residents who had replaced their desk chairs with ones from Office Depot. Now when I have a bunch of people over, not all of them have to sit on the floor.

This is my wall, that I've turn into a coat rack. The weather in Baltimore is sometimes pretty crazy, so I have a rain coat, a winter coat, a midweight coat...some scarves, a boa (don't ask), and a stuffed fish (again, don't ask) hanging on my entry way wall.

  This is my bathroom - surprisingly, it's not in too bad of shape compared to the rest of my room cleanliness-wise (probably because I haven't been around much to use it lately). Like Esther, my shower is HUGE - the size of a large bathtub. Definitely one of the perks of this building.

  Like on "Cribs," I'm going to take you outside now...though I don't have a bazillion cars like on TV, I do have a pretty cool lounge outside my door. This is the lounge on McCoy 3 East - some comfy chairs, couches, and some tables to study at, plus a TV with cable. It's great so wander out there sometimes and hang out with my residents.

Alright...that's it...I've shown you around my own little piece of Hopkins. Check out everyone else's rooms on their blogs...and stay tuned - you'll probably get to vote for your favorite crib soon on the message board!

Comments

[Michelle Brown]

"This is my fridge - I get my own as an RA, which means nobody gets to steal my food or make my room stink with long-left over leftovers."

Ohhhh, roommates. My roommate is great, but she does have that AWFUL habit of sticking things in Tupperware and not touching it again. While she was out of town this weekend I went through the fridge. I found peas that had probably been there since around November. Awesome.

[Adam Tanious]

Thanks, i like the colorfullness of yours, and your room is quite clean in my opinion

[MRB]

Love your room! I'm going to be a freshman next year at Hopkins and I was wondering if you had any insider tips on becoming and RA in sophmore year. Is it really hard to be selected? i would really appreciate if you could email me and tell me a little more about it and Hopkins in general. (shellib88@comcast.net)

Thanks!
Michelle